Mobile track working apparatus

ABSTRACT

A mobile track working apparatus, such as a track renewal train, comprises a car frame whose loading and transport platform has a track working tool mounted on the car frame underneath the platform.

United States Patent i I Plasser et a1. [451 Aug. 1, 1972 [54] MOBILE TRACK WORKING 851,982 4/1907 Downey ..104/6 APPARATUS 2,107,639 2/ 1 938 Madison 104/12 Inventors: Franz Plasser; Theurer both et a1. f Johannesgasse 3 Vienna Pettlgrew et a]. Austria 3,288,082 1 1/1966 Brosnan 104/2 3,330,219 7/1967 Plasser et a1. ..104/2 Flledi 1969 3,380,395 4/ 1968 Plasser et a1. ..104/12 21 App]. 5 929 3,426,697 2/ l 969 Stewart ..104/12 3,465,688 9/1969 Savterel ..104/12 3,504,635 4 1970 St rt 1: a1. 104 12 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data ewa e Oct. 25, 1968 Austria ..A 10452 Primwy Examiner-Arthur La Poit Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch [52] U.S. Cl. ..104/1, 104/12, 104/17 Attorney-Kurt elman [51] Int. Cl ..E0lb 27/00, EOlb 31/00 [58] Field of Search ..104/7, 7 B, 7 A, 8, 2, 1, 12, [57] ABSTRACT 104,118 123 A mobile track working apparatus, such as a track renewal train, comprises a car frame whose loading [56] References Cited and transport platform has a track working tool UNI STATES PATENTS mounted on the car frame underneath the platform.

719,217 1/1903 Hewitt ..104/6 17 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUI; 1 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 2 L mm L Q Q E Q Q QN I I I I Q I I I m I I I Q Q NN N E Q Q I I I M I I I N INVENTORJ Fan/z Puma) BY 6? mama PATENTEDAUB 1 m2 SHEET 2 OF 2 2'5" Ell:

INVENTOM M/Z 1LAER BY 40m: Tan

MOBILE TRACK WORKING APPARATUS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION the present invention relates to mobile track working apparatus which includes cars carrying track working tools.

It is the primary object of this invention to arrange such working tools in a novel and particularly effective manner so as to facilitate their operation and thus to improve the quality of the work, on the one hand, and to make the cars of the apparatus useful not only as carriers for the tools but also for other tasks.

This and other objects are accomplished in accordance with the invention by mounting track working tools in the car frame underneath its loading and transport platform and to provide such track working tools with their own running gears, if desired.

According to a preferred feature, an operating station is associated with the track working tool, and this station is also mounted on the car frame underneath the platform so that an operator at the station may readily operate the tool which is mounted within his sight.

Such an apparatus is particularly useful in connection with track renewal trains which comprise a succession of car frames whose loading and transport platforms carry mechanisms for loading and transporting track ties and rails. Such a train has been disclosed, for instance, in our US. Pat. No. 3,604,358, filed Aug. 12, 1969, and renews a track while continuously moving along the right-of-way, picking up an old track, including its rails and ties, and laying a new track in a continuous operation while conveying and supporting the track ties andrails on top of the car frame platforms. With the novel mounting of the track working tools provided by the present invention, the track renewal operations on top of the platforms may proceed completely independently from the operations performed by the track working tools underneath the platforms so that, for instance, such tools as track bolt fastening or removal wrenches or cutters for removing the heads of bolts may be operated from underneath the platform at the same time as the tie and rail conveying operation proceeds. Tools used for lubricating rail fastening elements may also be arranged in this manner.

Where the operating station is associated with a tool to be actuated from the station, a close arrangement of the station and the tool is particularly useful to simplify the tool control. If the tool is vertically adjustable, it may be readily moved out of the way where obstacles are encountered.

It is of particular advantage to mount the working tools for individually independent movement of the car frames so that they may be moved or held stationary during their operation largely independently of the continuous advancing movement of the car frame in the direction of track elongation during the track renewal operation. This may be accomplished by providing guide rails extending in such direction for movably supporting the working tools, and drive means, such as a drive chain, for moving the track working tool along the guide rail means in respect of the platform.

Thus. when a track renewal train of the above-indicated type slowly but continuously advances along the right-of-way, the working tool which is movable in respect to the car frame may be temporarily held in a stationary position to effect its work without in any way interfering with the continuous operation of the apparatus. In this manner, all mechanisms and tools of the apparatus will work at all times and without interruptions caused by the interference of one work with the other.

In such an arrangement, it is also possible to use working tools for cutting off the bolt heads of such bolts which cannot be unscrewed by a preceding wrench, thus smoothly continuing the picking up of the old track by the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a now preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of this invention incorporated into a mobile apparatus for renewing a track;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a detail of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, on a larger scale;

FIG. 4 is a section along line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of FIG. 3, taken in the direction of arrow V;

FIG. 6 is a partial top view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 on a track curve;

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating the operation of one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating the operation of another feature;

FIG. 10 is a front view of a detail of the apparatus of FIG. 9, on a larger scale; and

FIG. 11 is a section along line XIXI of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is schematically shown a portion of the type of track renewal apparatus more fully described and claimed in our US. Pat. No. 3,604,358, filed Aug. 12, 1969, under the title Mobile Track Maintenance Apparatus. This apparatus includes a plurality of cars forming a train, each car having a frame I mounted on swivel running gears 2 for mobility on track rails 3 which rest on ties 4. Each car frame has a loading and transport platform for storing and/or moving between cars a variety of mechanisms for conveying and/or storing track ties. In the illustrated embodiment, viewed from left to right in FIG. 1, these mechanisms include a mobile carriage 5 supporting a tie laying or picking-up device 6, an elongated tie conveyor 7 having one end supported on carriage 5 and another end supported on succeeding tie transport car 8, as well as a series of successive mobile tie transport bogies 9 for moving ties from or to transport car 8.

According to the present invention, tools for working on the track, either the old track before it is picked up or the new track after it has been laid, are mounted on the frames of the cars underneath the loading and transport platform. In addition, the control station for operating the mechanisms of the apparatus and/or the track working .tools is also preferably mounted underneath the loading and transport platform of a car, as shown at 10. The control station is large enough to accommodate an operator and contains control buttons or levers for the actuation of the tie conveyor system, including valve blocks 11, 12 and 13 for the conveyor control, of the pneumatic air storage tank 14 and the hydraulic oil storage tank 15, and of the drive motor 16 of the car.

The working direction of the mobile apparatus is indicated by the arrow in full lines (pointing to the left in FIG. 1) and, as seen in the working direction, the next succeeding car supports a power-operated wrench 17 underneath its loading platform and in vertical alignment with each track rail. An operating station 18 is associated with each wrench, being also supported on frame 1 underneath its loading platform. While the wrenchassociated with each operating stand is spaced therefrom inthe direction of track elongation, it is within sight of the operator so as to facilitate the control of the wrench.

In the illustrated embodiment, the operating station is fixed whilethe wrench may be moved along the frame but the invention is not limited to such an arrangement. Also, it is not essential that each rail has a wrench associated therewith and/or that each wrench has its own operating station. A sole operating station may be provided for operating a pair of wrenches and/or a single wrench may be provided for both rails if the wrench is laterally slidable or pivotal for adjustment into vertical alignment with either rails, as schematically indicated in FIG. 6. The guide railsfor the mova ble tools 17 are indicated generally at 19 in FIGS. 1 and 2 but this arrangement will be described in detail hereinafter.

The partially shown final car in FIGS. 1 and 2 carries at its front end, as viewed in the working direction, a tool 20 for cutting of the heads of the rail fastening elements, such as bolts, to be removed. This tool is used when the apparatus picks up an old track, and it is not planned to re-use the rail fastening elements.

FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate the adjustable mounting of the wrench 17 underneath the frame 1. For thispurpose, the underside of the frame platform carries a pair of guide rails 19, 19 extending in the direction of track elongation and supporting an elongated tool carrier plate 22 on rollers 23, 23 journaled in a pair of lateral rims extending from plate 22 and engaging the rails. The carrier plate may be moved along the rails 19, 19 by means of a chain drive 24. It supports a pivotal arm 26 whose one end is mounted on the carrier plate by means of pivot 25 and whose other end carries rollers 27 running in an arcuate guide 28. A vertical guide column 29 extends downwardly from the pivotal arm 26 for vertically adjustably supporting the bogie on which the wrench is mounted so that the bogie may be lifted off the track to avoid obstacles encountered on the track.

The lateral pivoting of the wrench support is particularly useful in track curves, as seen in FIG. 6, so that the wrench may be positioned vertically above each rail.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the operation of one aspect of the present invention. The car frame 1 moves slowly and continuously in the direction of the arrow into successive positions shown in broken lines, as the train effecting the track renewal moves along the right-of-way. This movement is completely independent of the movement of the wrench 17 along guide rails 19, which is effected by the operator at station 18. The wrench bogie may have stops arranged for engagement with rail fastening means, such as spikes, tie plates or the like, which will hold the bogie in a fixed position while the car advances, the relative movement of the car and bogie being effected by the rollers 23 running on guide rails 19 as the car proceeds and the bogie is held in a fixed position in relation to the track by its stops. This fixed position is maintained until the power-driven wrench has completed its work, at which time it is released and jumps forwardly towards the next tie while the car continues in its slow but steady forward movement. In the illustrated embodiment, each wrench is independently operable, in addition to being independently movable in respect of the car which supports it.

As indicated in FIG. 9, it is also possible to mount the operating station 18 for movement on guide rails 19, preferably in unison with the wrench 17. In this case, it is possible for the operator at the station 18 to move closer to the tool 20 mounted at the forward end of the succeeding car when it is desired to cut off the head of a bolt or the like. This tool may be used, for instance, for those bolts which could not be unscrewed by wrench 17, which precedes tool 20 in the working direction. The heads of such bolts are cut off so that the rail may be removed from the tie.

A useful bolt head cutting tool is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The tool is mounted on a pressure fluid drive 30 for vertical adjustment in relation to the track rail. It includes a carrier 31 having lateral guide cheeks on which wheels 32, 32 are journaled. A two-armed cutting knife 33 is pivoted to the guide cheeks at 36, being pivotal towards and away from anvil 34 by hydraulic drive 37 pivoted to one end of the knife, the other end having a cutting edge. The knife carrier 31 may be vertically adjusted on the rail by making at least one of its wheels vertically adjustable. As shown, the wheel 32 is mounted on a pivotal carrier arm 39 whose vertical position may be adjusted by set screw 40 mounted on carrier 31 and engaging a stop on the carrier arm 39. After proper vertical adjustment, the head 38 of a bolt is placed between anvil 34 and the cutting edge of knife 33, and the knife is moved against the anvil by drive 37 to cut off the head 38.

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile track working apparatus comprising 1. a car frame mounted for mobility on the track,

a. the car frame having a loading and transport platform;

2. a track working tool mounted on the car frame underneath the platform; and

3. an operating station accommodating an operator for the working tool and mounted on the car frame underneath the platform,

a. the track working tool and the operating station being adjustably positionable in respect of the car frame.

2. The track working apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a running gear for movingly supporting the track working tool on the track.

3. The track working apparatus of claim 1, further comprising guide rail means on the platform and supporting the track working tool underneath the platform, and drive means for moving the track working tool alongthe guide rail means in respect of the platform.

4. The track working apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a running gear for movingly supporting the track working tool on the track, and stop means on the running gear for engagement with a track part for temporarily fixing the track working tool in position relative to the platform whereby the track working tool remains stationary while the mobile apparatus continuously advances.

5. The track working apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an operating station for and associated with the track working tool, guide rail means on the platform and supporting the track working tool and the operating station underneath the platform, and drive means for moving the track working tool and the operating station along the guide rail means in respect of the platform.

6. The track working apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for laterally moving the track working tool on the platform.

7. The track working apparatus of claim 6, further comprising guide rail means on the platform and extending in the direction of track elongation, a track working tool carrier supported on the guide rail means for movement in said direction, and the means for laterally moving the track working tool supporting the working tool and mounted on the carrier.

8. The track working apparatus of claim 1, comprising at least two of said track working tools, each tool being independently movably mounted underneath the platform and associated with a respective one of the track rails.

9. The track working apparatus of claim 1, comprising a succession of said car frames forming a train, the loading and transport platforms of said car frames carrying mechanisms for loading and transporting track ties and rails, said track working tool being capable of fastening and loosening track rail fastening elements, and an operating station for the track working tool mounted on at least one of the car frames underneath the platform whereby the apparatus is useful for track renewal.

10. The track working apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operating station is associated with said track working tool and spaced therefrom in the direction of track elongation while being in sight thereof.

11. The track working apparatus of claim 1, further comprising guide rail means on the platform and movably supporting the track working tool and the operating station on the platform underneath thereof.

12. The track working apparatus of claim 1, wherein the track working tool and the operating station are movable in unison.

13. The track working apparatus of claim 9, comprising an additional one of said track working tools capable of cutting off the heads of selected ones of the track rail fastening elements.

14. The track working apparatus of claim 13, wherein said additional tool comprises a running gear guided along a track rail, and a cooperating anvil and o abl k ife su or ed on the runni ear. m 1 5. The t rack v grking apparatus of a im 14, further comprising means for vertically adjusting the running gear in respect of the track rail.

16. The track working apparatus of claim 14, wherein the knife is a two-armed lever, one arm carrying a cutting edge for cooperation with the anvil and the other arm being connected to means for pivoting the lever.

17. The track working apparatus of claim 14, wherein the running gear includes a wheel running on a track rail, and a carrier arm supporting the wheel for pivotal movement in a vertical plane whereby the running gear may be vertically adjusted in respect of the track rail. 

1. A mobile track working apparatus comprising
 1. a car frame mounted for mobility on the track, a. the car frame having a loading and transport platform;
 2. a track working tool mounted on the car frame underneath the platform; and
 3. an operating station accommodating an operator for the working tool and mounted on the car frame underneath the platform, a. the track working tool and the operating station being adjustably positionable in respect of the car frame.
 2. a track working tool mounted on the car frame underneath the platform; and
 2. The track working apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a running gear for movingly supporting the track working tool on the track.
 3. The track working apparatus of claim 1, further comprising guide rail means on the platform and supporting the track working tool underneath the platform, and drive means for moving the track working tool along the guide rail means in respect of the platform.
 3. an operating station accommodating an operator for the working tool and mounted on the car frame underneath the platform, a. the track working tool and the operating station being adjustably positionable in respect of the car frame.
 4. The track working apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a running gear for movingly supporting the track working tool on the track, and stop means on the running gear for engagement with a track part for temporarily fixing the track working tool in position relative to the platform whereby the track working tool remains stationary while the mobile apparatus continuously advances.
 5. The track working apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an operating station for and associated with the track working tool, guide rail means on the platform and supporting the track working tool and the operating station underneath the platform, and drive means for moving the track working tool and the operating station along the guide rail means in respect of the platform.
 6. The track working apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for laterally moving the track working tool on the platform.
 7. The track working apparatus of claim 6, further comprising guide rail means on the platform and extending in the direction of track elongation, a track working tool carrier supported on the guide rail means for movement in said direction, and the means for laterally moving the track working tool supporting the working tool and mounted on the carrier.
 8. The track working apparatus of claim 1, comprising at least two of said track working tools, each tool being independently movably mounted underneath the platform and associated with a respective one of the track rails.
 9. The track working apparatus of claim 1, comprising a succession of said car frames forming a train, the loading and transport platforms of said car frames carrying mechanisms for loading and transporting track ties and rails, said track working tool being capable of fastening and looseninG track rail fastening elements, and an operating station for the track working tool mounted on at least one of the car frames underneath the platform whereby the apparatus is useful for track renewal.
 10. The track working apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operating station is associated with said track working tool and spaced therefrom in the direction of track elongation while being in sight thereof.
 11. The track working apparatus of claim 1, further comprising guide rail means on the platform and movably supporting the track working tool and the operating station on the platform underneath thereof.
 12. The track working apparatus of claim 1, wherein the track working tool and the operating station are movable in unison.
 13. The track working apparatus of claim 9, comprising an additional one of said track working tools capable of cutting off the heads of selected ones of the track rail fastening elements.
 14. The track working apparatus of claim 13, wherein said additional tool comprises a running gear guided along a track rail, and a cooperating anvil and movable knife supported on the running gear.
 15. The track working apparatus of claim 14, further comprising means for vertically adjusting the running gear in respect of the track rail.
 16. The track working apparatus of claim 14, wherein the knife is a two-armed lever, one arm carrying a cutting edge for cooperation with the anvil and the other arm being connected to means for pivoting the lever.
 17. The track working apparatus of claim 14, wherein the running gear includes a wheel running on a track rail, and a carrier arm supporting the wheel for pivotal movement in a vertical plane whereby the running gear may be vertically adjusted in respect of the track rail. 